Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Colorado Springs

Glaucoma is one of the most common eye diseases found around the country, with over 3 million Americans being affected by it.

Glaucoma is typically linked to high intraocular pressure (IOP), which damages your optic nerve. However, it can occur without high IOP levels.

There are 3 common types of glaucoma:

• Open-angle glaucoma occurs when blockages form in the drainage canal of your eye, known as the trabecular meshwork. When this happens, the blockages prevent intraocular fluid from leaving the eye, which in turn raises IOP levels. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease, affecting around 2.7 million Americans.
• Closed-angle glaucoma, or angle-closure glaucoma, is less common than its open-angle counterpart, but far more severe. Closed-angle glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle between the iris and cornea closes altogether or becomes completely blocked. This then rapidly raises IOP and leads to immediate vision loss. If you start to experience sudden vision loss, flashes, floaters, or eye pain, please contact your optometrist or visit an emergency room immediately.
• Normal-tension glaucoma is a type of glaucoma that can occur even if IOP levels are normal. The only way to detect it is through a comprehensive eye exam and examining your optic nerve for damage.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease. It’s common enough, in fact, it’s the leading cause of blindness in adults over 55. The disease deteriorates your macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for central vision.

There are 2 common types of AMD:

• Dry AMD occurs when small deposits of drusen begin to form underneath the macula. This causes the macula to slowly deteriorate, impairing your central vision.
• Wet AMD occurs when fragile blood vessels form underneath your macula. These vessels can bulge and leak, leading to rapid vision loss that requires immediate attention. Wet AMD is responsible for the majority of AMD-related vision loss, but it’s far less common than dry AMD.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common diseases you can develop if you have diabetes. When your blood sugar is too high, it can cause blockages in the blood vessels behind your retina.

When these blood vessels are blocked, your retina may start to develop smaller and more delicate blood vessels in an effort to compensate. Unfortunately, these often break and leak, permanently damaging your vision.

Conjunctivitis isn’t an eye disease, but it’s a common eye condition. Conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye) can cause irritation, redness, and a stringy discharge in or around your eyes.

There are a couple of common forms of conjunctivitis:

• Viral conjunctivitis can develop if you contract a virus. Most of the time, this doesn’t need specific treatment, but you should speak to your optometrist in case there are eye drops, ointments, or medications you can use to alleviate your symptoms.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis is contracted through bacteria finding its way to the surface of your eye. While it may not need treatment, some optometrists may recommend using antibiotics to provide relief.
• Allergies cause allergic conjunctivitis. You can manage your symptoms using allergy medications or eye drops.

Cataracts are a common eye condition that usually occurs because of aging. As you grow older, the crystalline lens of your eye can become denser and more opaque, causing it to develop a milky or cloudy haze.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world. The only way to effectively treat cataracts is with cataract surgery, which replaces your crystalline lens with an artificial intraocular lens.